Australasian Bus & Coach – July 2019

(^18) ABCJuly 2019 busnews.com.au
NSW SOUTH COAST operator Sapphire
Coast Buslines (SCB) is to start two
on-demand bus trials for the Bega and the
Merimbula-Tura Beach-Pambula areas, the
company has announced.
In partnership with Transport for
NSW, Sapphire Coast Buslines launched
both services on July 6, 2019, offering
“...additional convenient and personalised
public transport options”.
According to the company, the new
services are a continuation of the NSW
Government trial of on-demand public
transport as a more flexible approach to
delivering services when and where people
need them, and to improve connectivity
to the existing public transport network
in NSW.
Known as the Flexibus On Demand
service, it will operate Monday to Friday
from 9:30am–2:45pm and on Saturday
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EXPRESSIONS

OF INTEREST

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9:30am–3:35pm. The service allows

passengers to book a trip within the

designated on-demand zone to make

connections from home to shops,

medical centres, as well as other

transport connections.

HOW IT WORKS

The service is primarily designed to be

booked through an app, explains Sapphire.

To book a journey on this trial service,

passengers will use the Flexibus app

obtained for free through the Apple

App Store or Google Play Store.

For users who don’t have access to a

smartphone the service can be booked

by phone via the Sapphire Coast Buslines

during operating hours Monday to Friday

and also online, it says.

“The App is an exciting partnership

designed by a local company GoToPlus

and will allow users to track the location of

the vehicle, their history, re-book regular

journeys and also pre-pay for bookings

using the ‘wallet’ pay function,” managing

director Jamie Klemm said.

“We are very curious to see the uptake

of users in the valley. A recent community

[survey] suggests that 50 per cent of bus

travellers would be interested in booking

via an App or online, so we can’t wait to see

how this changes the habits of patrons.”

MOBILITY AID

The on-demand service allows easier

access to bus stops for those with

mobility disadvantage, Sapphire Coast

Buslines explains.

The service will run using two new Iveco

12-seater Daily vehicles, which will be

Euro 6 compliant – bringing them into line

with the Ultra-Low Emission Zone vehicle

standards – and will be fully wheelchair

accessible, says Sapphire.

In terms of cost of service, this is based

on standard rural and regional bus fares

and concessions; pension discounts will

apply, which also assists those on a budget

or NDIS plan.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Member for Bega and Minister for

Transport Andrew Constance MP said:

“This is yet another fantastic service for the

local region.

“These buses have been well received

and well patronised in other areas and

I hope that people utilise the service if

they require transport across Bega and

Merimbula, Pambula and Tura Beach.

“Access to public transport is so very

important in regional areas and I am

super excited to see more services rolled

out across the Bega Valley,” Minister

Constance said.

NEWS